Maharashtra BJP searches for Gadkari`s successor

Mumbai: A day after Nitin Gadkari assumed
charge as president of BJP, the Maharashtra unit of the party
has started searching for his successor.

Gadkari, the party`s youngest-ever president and first
from Maharashtra, succeeded Rajnath Singh on Saturday.

"The party would start the process of choosing the
president for the state in March after consulting all the
senior party members," state party spokeperson Madhav Bhandari said to a news agency.

Considering the changing face of the party at the
national level, the state unit would also encourage its
GenNext leaders for the post, a party source said.

Among the contenders for the post are the likes of
Sudhir Mungantiwar, MLA from Ballarpur in Vidarbha, three-time
MLA from Nagpur Devendra Phadnavis, MLA from Jat in Sangli
district Prakash Shendge and MLC Vinod Tawde.

With young leader in the president`s post, the BJP
wants to adopt an aggressive agenda to expand the party in
the state, the source said.

The BJP leaders think that Shiv Sena-BJP alliance has
restricted the party growth in the state so far. However, this
is the right time to expand the party when the Sena is
weakening due to Raj Thackeray led MNS, the estranged nephew
of Sena chief Bal Thackeray, party sources said.

The BJP leaders think that Shiv Sena-BJP alliance has
restricted the party growth in the state so far. However, this
is the right time to expand the party when the Sena is
weakening due to Raj Thackeray-led MNS, the estranged nephew
of Sena chief Bal Thackeray, party sources said.

Mungantiwar is front runner in the race, with experience
in politics and image as an aggressive leader in the Assembly.
Phadnavis is known for his studious nature and is much younger
than other competitors.

Tawde is close to Gadkari and also the general secretary
of the party unit in the state. Shendge belongs to
Dhangar community and his selection may give the party a
non-Brahmin face.